| Welcome to our latest newsletter. As it is the last one of 2024 and thoughts are turning to all things festive, we send you our best Christmas wishes. If you are still looking for a present idea, how about gifting membership of WEN? Before Christmas, there's a chance to watch and learn about hedge laying at the St James Garden. Then, in the New Year, we have a willow weaving workshop to make a plant support or garden sculpture, gardening courses and the Reclaimers woodworking course or drop-in sessions. The WEN Crafters group will be returning too - new members welcome. We have a watery theme in the Four Elements workshop in January, and then a history workshop in February on the topic of plague and fire.
Our final feature about the Cool Wirral Climate Challenge takes the subject of repairing, with an information poster made by one of the Wirral Climate Champions. Upcoming local events include a Boxing Day walk at Wirral Country Park, the Wirral Repair Cafe, The Great Brimstage Wassail and a talk about the Roman Road Sandhills. The Quirky Community Hub will be holding a monthly Clothes Swap Cafe and there is a Circular Economy Club event in Liverpool highlighting sustainable textiles solutions. We have details of two post-Christmas recycling schemes: one for your Christmas tree and the other for confectionery and cracker tubs. The newsletter finishes with a good news story about plans for the new Hoylake Carrs Wetland Project, an update from Transition Town West Kirby, and a look back at the year in the WEN 2024 Annual Review. |
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The WEN office and Eco Centre at Falkland Road will be closed for the Christmas holidays from Wednesday 18th December. We will be reopening on Tuesday 7th January.
Thank you for your support in 2024 and helping us to make a difference. We look forward to 2025 and hope to see you in the year ahead as we continue to share skills and ideas and work together towards a greener Wirral.
We wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! |
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The decorations shown on our Christmas e-card above were made by members of the WEN Crafters group from upcycled materials, including old curtain rings. |
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Give the Gift of WEN Membership this Christmas! |
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Are you still wondering what to get a loved one for Christmas? We helpfully suggest buying them membership of WEN! Ideal for anyone who cares about our natural environment and sustainable living. Plus, there's no need to brave crowded shops or struggle with wrapping paper and sticky tape! Individual membership costs £12 (or £6 for unwaged people). We also offer household membership for £18. Find out about the benefits of membership of WEN and make payment via Paypal or using a debit or credit card: https://wirralenvironmentalnetwork.org.uk/membership-donations
If you have a bit more to spend, why not treat someone to one of our courses or workshops? Choose from gardening or woodwork courses, or workshops on willow weaving, the element of water, or plague and fire! See details in our event listings below. |
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Hedge Laying Demonstration Wednesday 18th December, 10am Green Hub at St James Community Garden Entrance between 192 and 194 Tollemache Road, Birkenhead |
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Steve, Pete and Jane of Wirral Countryside Volunteers have been helping manage the hedge at St James Garden using traditional techniques. As well as being functional, hedge laying is great for wildlife corridors. You can see some photos on our Facebook page of the volunteers working on the hedge last week. The hedge team will be back on Wednesday morning. If you would like to observe or have a go at hedge laying, you would be most welcome to come along to the garden. We'll have coffee and mince pies to help keep energy levels up! |
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The Four Elements Workshop 2: Water and Winter Saturday 11th January, 10am - 1pm WEN, Sandon Building, Falkland Road, Wallasey, CH44 8ER |
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The series of workshops about 'The Four Elements' continues with the themes of water and winter. You don't need to have attended the previous session to enjoy this one. What is Water made from? How did it come to be on our planet? What did the Ancients believe about the Element’s impact on health and personality? Which minerals are linked to the Water Element? Each session costs £15. To book, please contact Julie - phone 07540 073731 or email [email protected] |
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WEN Crafters Restarts Tuesday 14th January, 10am - 12pm Sandon Building, Falkland Road, Wallasey, CH44 8ER |
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The WEN Crafters meet every other Tuesday, with the first sessions after the New Year being on 14th and 28th January. They use donated and repurposed materials and work on any projects that individuals in the group suggest or on their own pieces. Crafts include sewing, knitting, crochet, jewellery making and card making. New members are always welcome! If you would like to find out more about getting involved, please email [email protected] |
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WEN Reclaimers: Woodwork Skills and Projects Starting Tuesday 14th January 2025 Sandon Building, Falkland Road, Wallasey, CH44 8ER |
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Choose from an 8 week course or free drop-in sessions with the WEN Reclaimers. 8 week course Tuesdays from 14th January, 10.30am - 12.30pm £60 Learn use of hand tools, designing, measuring and cutting accurately, drilling and more. Make a planter and a stool to take home. Booking essential. Please email [email protected] Drop-in Tuesdays from 14th January, 1 - 3pm Free
Make wood items for WEN and help with improvement projects around the centre. No need to book. Download the WEN Reclaimers poster |
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Gardening Courses at WEN Starting January 2025 Sandon Building, Falkland Road, Wallasey, CH44 8ER |
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Get your new year off to a good start by joining us for the next term of gardening courses in January! You can sign up for just one term or continue for as many terms as you like as each one is different.
Practical Gardening Discover and practice practical tasks you can do in your garden at this time of year. Start date: Wednesday 15th January, 9.30 - 11.30am Cost: £60.00 for each 10 week term, 20 hours Discover the Past, Present and Future of Gardening Discover the history of gardens, with outings to local gardens and parks of interest. Start Date: Wednesday 15th January, 12 - 2pm Cost: £60.00 for each 10 week term, 20 hours
Gardening Group This is for people who have an interest in all aspects of gardening. Start date: Friday 17th January, 9.30 – 11.30am Cost: £60.00 for each 10 week term, 20 hours Download the gardening courses information sheet For more information, or to book on a course, phone 07932 355742 or email [email protected]
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Willow Weaving Workshop Friday 31st January, 12.30pm - 2.30pm WEN, Sandon Building, Falkland Road, Wallasey, CH44 8ER |
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Make a plant support by weaving willow branches together. Use it to support climbing plants such as sweet peas or beans, or create a natural sculpture for your garden. Cost: £15, includes tuition and all materials for one structure. If you would like to make more than one willow structure, we request a donation for the additional materials. To book a place, please email Carol at [email protected] or phone 07932 455742. Feedback from the Christmas decoration willow weaving workshops:
"One of the most enjoyable afternoons I have ever spent. Carol was so helpful and informative...Will definitely do more of her courses."
"I thoroughly enjoyed making my willow wreath. A lovely welcoming and relaxing atmosphere in which Carol went above and beyond to ensure that everyone went away happy and with their own beautiful, bespoke creation. Thank you again. 100% RECOMMEND!!" |
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History Workshop: 'Plague and Fire' Saturday 8th February, 10am - 1pm WEN, Sandon Building, Falkland Road, Wallasey, CH44 8ER |
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Julie will be holding another of her fascinating history workshops at WEN in February. This one will look at the topics of the Bubonic Plague and The Great Fire of London. Find out what people at the time believed caused the plague and some of the strange remedies used to try to prevent or cure it, many of which did more harm than good! The fire section will focus on why fire was a risk in 17th Century London and the causes and consequences of the fire.
Cost: £10. To book a place, please contact Julie by phoning 07540 073731 or emailing [email protected] |
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Cool Wirral Climate Challenge: Shopping |
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Pledge to Fix It, Don't Ditch It! |
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Kate, a Wirral Climate Champion, created the poster below, based on the Cool Wirral Climate Challenge theme of sustainable shopping and repairing items instead of buying new. The company you bought a item from may be able to repair it if it is still under warranty. If you are confident enough to have a go yourself, YouTube is a great source for repair tutorials and the iFixit website provides manuals for repairing a wide range of products. Need some help? Visit Wirral Repair Café at Birkenhead Central Library! It takes place on the first Saturday of each month and the next session is on 4th January, from 2 to 4pm (see below for more details). Learning how to replace a button, stitch hems and sew up holes and tears will keep your clothes looking good for longer. See the guide to clothing repairs on the Moral Fibres website. Many local cycle shops offer a bike repair service. If you need to pump or change your tyres or carry out minor adjustments while you are riding your bike, there are four cycle repair stations in Wirral for residents to use. |
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Boxing Day Walk
Thursday 26th December, 1.30 - 3 pm Wirral Country Park, Station Road, Thurstaston, CH61 0HN |
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Wirral Repair Café
Saturday 4th January, 2 - 4pm
Birkenhead Central Library, Borough Road, Birkenhead, CH41 2XB |
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Unfortunately the December session of Wirral Repair Cafe was cancelled due to safety concerns during Storm Darragh so the team are really looking forward to springing into action again in the New Year. Take along your broken household items and the volunteers will show you how to repair them.
Look out for the list of available repairs on the Wirral Repair Cafe Facebook page on 30th December.
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The Great Brimstage Wassail!
Sunday 5th January, 10.30am - 4pm
Brimstage Orchard, Brimstage Hall, Brimstage Road, Brimstage, CH63 6JA |
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Wassail with Wirral Pomona! The day includes: singing the wassail; the clattering of tins, pans and cups; ribbons and toast being tied to the trees; the “Great Brimstage Codlin Walloping"; and songs to the orchard and the orchard-keepers. There will also be contributions from the local Vikings, Pagans, Druids, Wise Folk, dancers, singers, bee-keepers, pipers, and Yoga practitioners. Plus, apple roasting, honey, cake and cider. At around 12.45pm, the Wassail moves to the orchard at Lees Lane Ponds (Ness) for some legends and stories, as well as more dancing, hot cider and cake. Bring colourful clothes, drums, clattering sticks, be-ribbonned hats, strong footwear and a sense of wonderous absurdity! |
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Wirral Wildlife Talk: 'The Power of Small Things, or the Roman Road Sandhills Adventure'
Friday 10th January, 7.30pm
Thornton Hough W.I. Hall, Neston Road, Thornton Hough, CH63 1JL |
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An account of how a neglected area of semi-urban land, on the cusp of being lost to scrub and invasive species, is becoming rediscovered and reclaimed by the local community as important remnant dune habitat for butterflies, bees and other invertebrates. Speaker Kathryn Fegan is a member of Wirral Wildlife and founder of the Friends of Roman Road Sandhills. Admission £5. The talk will be followed by complimentary tea/coffee and homemade cake, with an opportunity to meet like-minded people. |
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Clothes Swap Café
Saturday 11th January, time TBC
The Quirky Community Hub, 124e Market St, Hoylake, Wirral, CH47 3BH |
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The volunteers at The Quirky Community Hub enjoyed their last Clothes Swap Cafe so much that they have decided to hold another one in January, and then will be making it a regular event after that on the second Saturday of each month.
Swap your good quality, pre-loved clothes for fabulous new-to-you garments. Drop off your donated clothes before the event, or bring items on the day. Clothes should be clean, of good quality, and in a wearable condition.
Enjoy free refreshments when you take part in the Clothes Swap or treat yourself to lunch in the café. Follow The Quirky Community Hub on Facebook to see more details about this event when they are announced. |
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Sustainable Textiles Solutions in Liverpool City Region
Wednesday 15th January, 10am - 12pm
The Bluecoat, 8 School Lane, Liverpool, L1 3BX |
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Recycling Christmas Trees and Confectionery Tubs |
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Hoylake Carrs Wetland Project |
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Earlier this year, Wirral Council was awarded £430,000 of flood management funds to work with Cheshire Wildlife Trust to create a new wetland in the Hoylake Carrs area. The project will reduce the flood risk in towns downstream along the River Birket and create habitat for wintering waders and wildfowl. There will be new boardwalks to allow public access to the site. Work is expected to start in September 2025 with ponds, grassland, marsh and woodland created over the next three years. The BBC News website has more details on the wetland: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/czd4l35eqgjo |
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Transition Town West Kirby December Update |
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2024 has been another great year for WEN, as we continue to empower individuals, communities, and organisations with the knowledge and skills they need to protect our planet for future generations.
It is thanks to the dedication of our team, members, volunteers, supporters, partners and local communities that we have been able to do this.
Read about the highlights of this year’s achievements in our Annual Review: https://wirralenvironmentalnetwork.org.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/Annual-Review-2024.pdf |
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